25 Players Most Likely to Be Dealt at the NBA Trade Deadline

In ranking the 25 NBA players most likely to be dealt at Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, a combination of factors come into play. At the forefront is the reported interest in each player, but current team salary structures and the specific positional needs were also considered.

From Pau Gasol of the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 25 to Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks at No. 1, these rankings list which players on the trade block could be traded, from least likely to most likely.

But while the Lakers would create much needed salary cap relief by moving Gasol and the $19.3 million he's owed for next season, it's going to be difficult to find a trade partner before the deadline.

On February 1, ESPN's Marc Stein reported that the Toronto Raptors were interested in Gasol. Shortly after that, though, the 32-year-old was sidelined for six to eight weeks with plantar fascia and knee tendinitis.

The injury, it seems, would make Gasol nearly untradable despite speculation indicating otherwise earlier this season.

23. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics

For that reason, Garnett is among the most unlikely players to be dealt despite his name consistently surfacing in trade reports over the last few days.

Otherwise, he would be a great fit for the Los Angeles Clippers alongside Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. With those superstars by his side, he could find himself competing for an NBA championship once again.

A Yahoo! Sports report this week did indicate that if Paul does want Garnett in Los Angeles, the Clippers will push harder than they previously have to get a deal done.

But unless those two guys talked extensively at All-Star Weekend—after Garnett initially came out stating his desire to be buried in Celtics' green—expect KG to stay in Boston for the duration of this season.

21. Spencer Hawes, Philadelphia 76ers

USA TODAY SportsPhiladelphia 76ers' Spencer Hawes

Fox Sports Ohio's Sam Amico reported last week that the Toronto Raptors have been involved in discussions with the Philadelphia 76ers regarding Andrea Bargnani. Spencer Hawes was the piece that Philly was reportedly offering.

At $6.5 million next season, Hawes is a reasonably priced, serviceable NBA big man. In 51 games, primarily as a reserve, Hawes is averaging 10.2 points and 6.4 rebounds in just over 25 minutes per night.

He could help the Raptors or any other team in need of some low-post depth without tying up dollars past 2014.

20. Derrick Williams, Minnesota Timberwolves

USA TODAY SportsMinnesota Timberwolves' Derrick Williams

It's difficult to believe that a player drafted second overall in 2011 could already be on his way out of town. It becomes less difficult to understand, though, when that player is stuck behind a perennial All-Star like Kevin Love.

As a result of Love's injury this season, the Minnesota Timberwolves are expected to fall short of the playoffs. When Love does return next year, though, there won't be much room for Derrick Williams in the starting lineup.

ESPN 1500 reported that while Williams is available, a trade seems more likely this summer than this week. Unless, of course, someone swoops in now with an offer for Williams in hopes that he can develop into what he appeared to be coming out of Arizona.

19. Rodney Stuckey, Detroit Pistons

After trading for Jose Calderon last month, the Detroit Pistons appear set to pair him with second-year guard Brandon Knight heading into next season.

Meanwhile, the Rodney Stuckey era in Detroit could be over as soon as this week if the Pistons are able to find a trade partner. According to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press, teams have been calling about Stuckey.

If he is moved, the $8.5 million player option he's expected to pick up won't be Detroit's problem next season, which would leave the Pistons with upwards of $30 million in available cap space.

The delicate dance for Joe Dumars and company would be to find someone willing to take on Stuckey's contract when he's scoring only 11.3 points on 38.6 percent shooting from the field this season.

14. Jared Dudley, Phoenix Suns

Jared Dudley can be up-and-down when it comes to his offensive contributions, but given regular playing time, he has the ability to light up the scoreboard.

The New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies have been linked to Dudley at one time or another this season, and while neither would offer him a starting job, both could use him as a spark plug off the bench.

Despite reportedly wanting to stay in Phoenix (via Dave King of SB Nation), Dudley could make a bigger impact down the stretch if acquired by a contending team.

11. DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Clippers

DeAndre Jordan is a 24-year-old center who provides the defense and rebounding that championship teams need.

If I were the Los Angeles Clippers, I wouldn't be so quick to move a big man like that unless I could be guaranteed to get similar size and athleticism in return.

I would be more inclined to move Jordan, however, if reports like Sean Deveney's from the Sporting News were true. Deveney tweeted this weekend, "Clippers Vinny Del Negro and DeAndre Jordan have clashed over his involvement in the offense, source said. Hence they want a vet upgrade."

If the Clippers can find that veteran upgrade, expect them to pull the trigger on Jordan regardless of his physical tools.

7. DeJuan Blair, San Antonio Spurs

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY SportsSan Antonio Spurs' DeJuan Blair

DeJuan Blair is playing the fewest number of minutes of his NBA career. At 13.8 per night, he can be easily replaced in the San Antonio Spurs rotation. As a free agent this summer, the Spurs may look to move Blair to add something of value in return.

While only scoring 5.4 points and collecting 3.9 rebounds on a nightly basis with a $1 million expiring deal, I don't expect San Antonio to trade Blair alone.

But with interest from teams like the Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors and others being reported, it is likely that Blair will be dealt somewhere before the trade deadline expires.

5. Timofey Mozgov, Denver Nuggets

USA TODAY SportsDenver Nuggets' Timofey Mozgov

There isn't a playoff team in the NBA that couldn't use an extra big man for the stretch run.

By no means am I suggesting that Timofey Mozgov will put a team over the top, but there has been rampant speculation that he will be dealt this week because of what he could add in an end-of-the-bench role.

The Denver Nuggets, meanwhile, seem unlikely to re-sign Mozgov this summer when he becomes a restricted free agent.

They are already at the luxury tax line, with $73 million currently owed next year, and have only been playing Mozgov roughly 10 minutes per game this season.

Earning $3.1 million this year, Mozgov should be affordable for most teams.

3. Andrea Bargnani

I have this inescapable feeling that some team is going to take a chance at resurrecting Andrea Bargnani's career by making a move for him at the deadline.

His contract is huge. He's also owed $32 million through 2015, and hasn't played well this season for the Toronto Raptors. But Bargnani is still a 7-footer with offensive skill and is only 27 years old.

There aren't too many players in the league like that these days. So despite shooting only 40 percent while collecting 3.9 rebounds in 25 games this season, Bargnani still has value.

A swap with the Chicago Bulls for Carlos Boozer makes the most sense. The Charlotte Bobcats have also been linked to Bargnani recently.

But while Doug Smith of the Toronto Starreported on Monday that a trade may come later rather than sooner for Bargnani, I still would rank him among the most likely players to be traded this week.

2. J.J. Redick, Orlando Magic

The Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls have all shown interest in J.J. Redick.

There are a number of other playoff teams his 15.3 points, 4.4 assists and 40.3 percent shooting from three-point range would help this season as well.

Somebody, it seems, is going to trade for this guy.

I understand the Orlando Magic are not in a rush to move the unrestricted free agent, but they could be best served by doing so anyway. The Magic are 1-9 in their last 10 games and are going nowhere at the moment.

Rather than letting Redick walk at the end of the year, they might as well cash in by acquiring whatever young assets are available to further assist the rebuilding effort.

1. Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks

Josh Smith is scheduled to be a free agent after this season. He could demand a max contract this summer and might not agree to an extension in a hypothetical trade scenario before the deadline.

But while this would make Smith an expensive rental, there seems to be too much interest in moving him to believe that he is staying put.

On February 11, Chris Broussard of ESPN first reported that the Brooklyn Nets were aggressively pursuing a trade for Smith. Marc Spears from Yahoo! Sports also mentioned the San Antonio Spurs as a team interested in Smith.

A number of other teams, including the Boston Celtics, according to ESPN's Marc Stein, have explored trade possibilities for the Hawks' small forward as well.

With GM Danny Ferry intent on clearing cap space since he arrived in Atlanta this summer, accomplishing this by moving Smith and acquiring assets in return appears imminent.